Pixel 5: First Impressions

Hey there! If only you all could have seen me running around my house when the box from #TeamPixel arrived. Seriously - I should film it next time and just embarrass myself. NO CHILL.

Since I’ve only been using this for a couple of days now, this will really be a high-level first impressions video. I’ll be sharing much more in a full review which will be coming. 

First of all, let’s talk about this color. I was “sorta” nervous about liking it, but “Sorta Sage” is beautiful. Once I saw it in person, I loved it! It’s subtle and with the chrome hints on the power button and the Google logo, it gives it such a classic look. The aluminum back on the phone has a slight texture to it, but it is smooth and feels great in your hands. It won’t be collecting the fingerprints that we all know many phones show so easily. 

One of the questions I was getting a lot was about the size. Here is the Pixel 4XL up against the 5. For me, I’m enjoying the 6-inch screen and the size of the Pixel 5. It’s much easier for me to hold in my hands and operate even with one hand. So, this size is a win in my book. I know many are on the fence about it but you might actually be surprised at how much you’ll enjoy it. Especially with the smaller bezels around the screen compared to past models. 

My family and I went on a hike and I was able to grab some really amazing photos and videos. These are straight out of the camera and I’m still stunned at what I could capture. The front-facing camera is 8-megapixels and the back is 12-megapixels with an ultrawide lens. 

For video, the Pixel 5 shoots 1080p video at up to 240 frames per second and 4K video up to 60 frames per second. The new features like cinematic-pan were outstanding and I’m excited to continue to use these and other features. 

Another big question I was receiving from you all was on battery life. So far, and I’m noting that it has only been a couple of days, the battery life has been awesome. I’m able to get through a full day with battery to spare. And with the added wireless charging and reverse charging, I am thrilled. As I mentioned in my Pixel 4a video, that was something that I was truly missing. 

Overall, I’m THRILLED with the Pixel 5. I think Google has another winner on their hands and with the price of $699, you are getting all the features you need with a battery that will last.